JOBS TO DO THIS WEEK

■ It’s not too late to protect plants from the cold, so make sure any tender ones are either indoors in the conservatory or greenhouse, or wrapped up outside in some hessian or horticultural fleece.

■ If you’re feeling energetic, you could do a bit of pruning, left. Any wisteria which has thrown out long whippy stems can be clipped back to about 2 or 3 buds.

■ Summer probably seems a long way off, but you could start sweet peas from seed now. If you sowed them in autumn, you’ve a head start and could be potting them on now.

■ Start planning your hanging baskets – ordering seeds and plug plants. It’s always great to dream about colour in the dull days of January.

■ Order seed potatoes and start chitting them – pop them, eyes up, in an egg box near some light, above.